Our new obedience class started tonight; a little boring, I'm sure it'll get better!

[chelle]

I sound like a brat to say it was boring, but it was. I'm only partially regretting my decision to repeat. This facility, though, is so highly crazy -- three rings in one huge room -- that if Bails can concentrate in that chaos, that has to count for something.

Tonight was a lot of talking and basic stuff. Really basic doggy psychology kinds of things. Happily, I liked the trainer's "philosophy" on things she talked about. She's a nice, peppy type and I like that, too.

I think Bails was laughing inside. He was getting mad treats for stuff he knows, and I've tried to wean him off of getting so many treats for. Ahh, big score for Bails.

There was one wild child dog in the bunch. I don't know the breed, something small is all I can say, and that dog didn't stop barking the entire time. The owner did take him out of the ring for a bit, then came back and sat outside the ring and the barking never stopped. Any dog that was near him, he was literally crazy, barking, lunging with his little body. I did leave with a headache. I know the owner was miserable and her dog was making me very miserable and having trouble hearing the trainer. I am an evil, rotten human being, but I hope she doesn't bring that dog back. He just wasn't really ready for that class? How can a dog bark that long and hard? Yikes, when I bark that much, I get a very sore throat.

In the ring behind me was a Clicker class. So I kept hearing click, click, click, click, click. I thought, hmmm, how does each dog recognize HIS click with all that clicking going on?

I'm just glad to be back in classes!

[onyx'girl]

Can you use a ball or tug for drive building/rewards?

[chelle]

Originally Posted by onyx'girl

Can you use a ball or tug for drive building/rewards?

Ah, excellent idea, thank you.! I will have to ask about that.

[chelle]

I was thinking about this thread today and how I might've come across wrong.

For instance, in one short "exercise," we were to treat the dog repeatedly for touching the dog's collar. I didn't want to treat for that, as we don't have any problems there. The trainer was very nice, but she noticed I was touching the collar and praising, but not treating. She said something like, "Now treat Bailey! He's doing a nice job!" and I did so... I mean, what was I to say at that point?

Then lots of treating for taking 2-3 steps beside you. 2-3 steps, treat in the mouth. I was going more steps than that, and got "called out" again.

I DO appreciate the trainer was paying attention. I can see as a trainer, it might be easy to ignore those doing okay, especially in a bigger class. I just didn't want to reward him for a lousy couple of steps, when he'd been worked up to a long farther than that.

Is it setting him back in any way to get all these treats for things he is doing okay with?

I will follow onyx-girl's suggestion to ask about using a toy, though I don't know *what* to use, other than a squeak toy, which may disrupt the other dogs. (?) He's very food driven. A ball won't do it. A Frisbee might. His Wubba might. What about a kong with peanut butter? Let him have a lick for a reward?

Any ideas to cut down on all this treating? OR will it hurt anything to just let him hit the lottery with easy treats?

Thank you.

[onyx'girl]

Get an orbee ball on a rope if you can.
I use a water wubba too...easier on my hands. But they aren't very strong.
Or you can order a tug or ball on string(should receive it by the next training class)

Gappay Synthetic 2 handle tug 3x25cm
Frabo Ball on Rope - Medium
Gappay Ball on String - Medium
Elite Working Balls with T-tug Handle-Elite K-9

[llombardo]

May I ask why this dog is in this class if it already knows whats being taught? Isn't there a next class to advance to? Where I take my dog, there are three different levels and each level builds on the last level. My dog knew most of the stuff in the first class, but I was happy to reward her when she did it correctly and in a different setting. My trainer says food and/or toys can be used effectively in training.

[llombardo]

Originally Posted by chelle

I was thinking about this thread today and how I might've come across wrong.

For instance, in one short "exercise," we were to treat the dog repeatedly for touching the dog's collar. I didn't want to treat for that, as we don't have any problems there. The trainer was very nice, but she noticed I was touching the collar and praising, but not treating. She said something like, "Now treat Bailey! He's doing a nice job!" and I did so... I mean, what was I to say at that point?

Then lots of treating for taking 2-3 steps beside you. 2-3 steps, treat in the mouth. I was going more steps than that, and got "called out" again.

I DO appreciate the trainer was paying attention. I can see as a trainer, it might be easy to ignore those doing okay, especially in a bigger class. I just didn't want to reward him for a lousy couple of steps, when he'd been worked up to a long farther than that.

Is it setting him back in any way to get all these treats for things he is doing okay with?

I will follow onyx-girl's suggestion to ask about using a toy, though I don't know *what* to use, other than a squeak toy, which may disrupt the other dogs. (?) He's very food driven. A ball won't do it. A Frisbee might. His Wubba might. What about a kong with peanut butter? Let him have a lick for a reward?

Any ideas to cut down on all this treating? OR will it hurt anything to just let him hit the lottery with easy treats?

Thank you.

Eventually the treating will dwindle....its like potty training, once they are trained the treats are few and far in between. Don't worry about using a squeaky toy...you are training your dog and any dog that is distracted by that will have to learn also. My trainer actually pulls out the squeaky toys for certain dogs if food isn't working. But I still think the biscuits are good...I take small biscuits and break them into even smaller pieces, by the time the class is over, my dog has had a total of maybe 5 biscuits. Good Luck and enjoy the class, you will look back on it fondly one day

[chelle]

Originally Posted by onyx'girl

Get an orbee ball on a rope if you can.
I use a water wubba too...easier on my hands. But they aren't very strong.
Or you can order a tug or ball on string(should receive it by the next training class)

Gappay Synthetic 2 handle tug 3x25cm
Frabo Ball on Rope - Medium
Gappay Ball on String - Medium
Elite Working Balls with T-tug Handle-Elite K-9

Thanks for the suggestions, the hardest part... is which.. one? I want them all.

Originally Posted by llombardo

May I ask why this dog is in this class if it already knows whats being taught? Isn't there a next class to advance to? Where I take my dog, there are three different levels and each level builds on the last level. My dog knew most of the stuff in the first class, but I was happy to reward her when she did it correctly and in a different setting. My trainer says food and/or toys can be used effectively in training.

We changed facilities because the prior one wasn't offering the next level class and it was rather strongly suggested we start from ground zero. Since this facility is far more noisy and distracting, and we haven't been in a class since November, I thought that sounded like a good idea.

~ UPDATE~

I'm going to try to update after each class so I can get feedback, as well as so I can look back on it later.

Definitely better this session. Didn't have to do any treating for silly things like touching the collar.

The barking dog did not return. I feel guilty for being happy about that but I heard every word out of the instructor's mouth this time as opposed to her every 4th or 5th word and piecing it together thru the nonstop barking. I hope the best for Mr Barky Doggy, though, I really do.

I am finding the training methods very interesting and trying to follow them to a "T."

Tonight we worked on the beginnings of "down." Bailey has his down figured out, BUT she wanted the down to the side -- something we have not done, so that was great. I enjoyed working on that.

This class has 3 - 4 trainers in the ring or just outside the ring watching through the whole class. I love it. They're walking around, helping, interracting, giving suggestions. I honestly feel they're really, really *into* what they're doing. Real honest to God dog people. I'm glad I chose this class.

Crowning glory of my night... One of the trainers, likely a 70+ year old young lady, who I am darn near sure was there when I took my first dog to this same place 20+ years ago, came up to us and said, "I know you say Bailey is a mix on your paper, but I don't believe it, I think he's all German Shepherd and a very handsome boy."

Mama GLOWED. (Yes, I know she knows he isn't pb, you can surely see it if you look, but it sure made me feel wonderful!)

So, yes, it got better and I am eagerly awaiting next class. I'm hooked on this. I can't believe I have to wait a whole week.

[Gracie's My Girl]

Awesome! It's great to hear that you and Bailey are having fun.

Our last obedience class ended this week and I doubt I will be going back. The trainer was rude and disrespectful to a request I made. Also, as I become more and more educated...I see more and more faults with her training methods. I wish I could find a class as great as yours sounds. Keep us updated!